Alachua County Commissioners were set to hit the phones Tuesday to talk to area members of the Florida House of Representatives and stop a shift in Medicaid billing practices that could cost the county millions.
At a general policy discussion meeting earlier in the day, County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson urged commissioners to explain to representatives how “devastating” passing the plan would be.
The plan would make counties responsible for 85 percent of unpaid bills related to Medicaid patients hospitalized for more than 10 days.
State law requires counties to cover 35 percent of the costs when these patients are residents of their counties. In turn, counties review bills from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to eliminate non-residents and any incidences of multiple billing before paying the state.
Under the proposed change, the Florida Senate would have the state seeking payment for a $325 million backlog of disputed unpaid invoices that go back more than four years. This would make Alachua County responsible for approximately $11.3 million over three years. The state would be allowed to withhold revenue sharing money from a county in an amount equal to what the county owes.
But county officials say Alachua has been over-billed because of the trauma center at Shands at the University of Florida and because it’s the first county listed alphabetically in the state. The center receives patients from around the region with the county usually getting the bill for non-county residents. Plus, they say, a flaw in the AHCA computer means this county, as the first listed, gets a higher number of patients mistakenly billed to it.
The issue is getting attention statewide with the Florida Association of Counties urging county commissioners and staff to talk with both Florida house and senate members.
In a spreadsheet circulated by the organization, it was estimated that with the change Alachua County’s total payments for the 2010-11 fiscal year would increase to $6.6 million, up from $1.3 million.
Lawmakers struck a deal on a new state budget Monday, but it may not be until Thursday before the direction they take on Medicaid billing practices is clear.

About This Blog

County Lines and City Limits follows Gainesville and Alachua County politics and government from City Hall to the statehouse.

Morgan Watkins, a University of Florida grad, joined the Sun in August 2012 as its county government reporter. She keeps you updated on what’s happening inside county meetings and outside in local neighborhoods. If you think something might make a good story, let her know at morgan.watkins@gvillesun.com.